HMP lost an icon when long-time Pennsylvania Street resident Ken Keene died on February 18, 2015. The man who lovingly cared for Tuckaway, the Indianapolis landmark he called home since 1972, was well known for his soirees, amazing stories, and being an advocate for historic preservation. Those of us in HMP also knew him as a dear friend and neighbor.
During the early years of the 20th century, Tuckaway was the home of “scientific palmist” Nellie Simmons Meier, and her husband, the noted fashion designer George Philip Meier. During their residency, the upscale bungalow played host to an endless list of celebrities from the worlds of art, science, and politics. George died in 1934 while Nellie lived until 1944, at which time ownership of the house was passed on to the Meiers’ niece. Ken bought the house from the niece in 1972 and had since preserved the legacy of Tuckaway’s colorful former residents while leaving his own distinctive mark on the house and neighborhood.
Ken’s ownership of Tuckaway almost didn’t happen. As a young 20-something, Ken stumbled upon the house. Eager to purchase the property, he struggled to obtain a loan because banks had “redlined” the area, a discriminatory (and now illegal) practice where entire areas are arbitrarily marked off-limits for loans. But Ken’s father, a WWII general and prominent business and civic leader, intervened and helped Ken secure a loan. Ken paid $12,500 for the house.
Many people assume Ken purchased the home with all its original contents. When one walks into Tuckaway, he or she instantly steps back into time and experiences both the grandeur and intimacy that is evoked by the home’s lavish furnishings. But unfortunately, nearly all of the home’s original contents had been sent to auction by the Meiers’ niece. Over time, through Ken’s expertise of design and furniture, Ken was able to fill the house with furnishings that were appropriate to the house and its history, while reflecting his own personal and unique tastes.
Thankfully, some original items did come with the house, primarily Nellie’s palm prints, personal correspondence, and the numerous autographed photos from the home’s famous visitors that still hang on the walls. But according to Ken, Nellie’s personal affects weren’t the only items that came with the house. On many occasions, Ken claimed to have encounters with the ghosts of Tuckaway’s former owners. Even boarders who rented rooms from Ken had experiences, especially those who slept in Nellie’s bedroom. A master storyteller, Ken always had a ghost story to share or an amazing anecdote linking the house’s past and present. At Tuckaway, you could always expect the unexpected, and as Ken would tell you (and many of his friends would agree), things never happened by coincidence.
Always a gracious host, Ken threw amazing parties for his friends and neighbors. You could always count on a party happening on Christmas, Halloween, and Bastille Day (parties were always on the actual day of the holiday, not the weekend of). Most of the time, however, parties would happen for no reason at all and weere often a decision made that day. But Ken didn’t only share his house with friends. He also welcomed the public to Tuckaway during the HMP Home Tours. Tuckaway was always one of the most popular houses on the tour. He also shared the house with other not-for-profit organizations for fundraisers and special events.
Sadly, in recent years, Ken’s health had been in steady decline. Social events became few and far between as our longtime neighbor and friend became more reclusive. At his request, no memorial service was to be held. Instead, a “Celebration of Life” party, something which he looked favorably upon and helped plan, will be held.